Michael Cappello, MD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Our research encompasses laboratory and field based studies of parasitic diseases that affect children in developing countries. This work focuses on bloodfeeding hookworms, intestinal nematodes that infect nearly one billion people worldwide, and malaria, a major killer of children in the tropics. Using molecular, immunological, and biochemical techniques, we study pathogenesis in order to develop new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for use in resource limited settings. Collaborative field based research is focused on identifying risk factors for parasitic infections, characterizing the impact of polyparasitism on child health, and monitoring the effectiveness of current control strategies.
Specialized Terms: global health; molecular parasitology; hookworm; malaria; vaccine development; maternal-child health; neglected tropical diseases; epidemiology
Extensive Research Description
We conduct laboratory and field based investigations aimed at characterizing the epidemiology and molecular pathogenesis of parasitic diseases, specifically hookworm and malaria. We also study the pathogenesis of parasite coinfection and the role of host nutritional status in mediating susceptibility to disease. Our group utilizes molecular methods to identify parasite virulence factors, as well as define the genetic basis of treatment failure in endemic areas. Using laboratory models, we are developing novel drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for parasitic diseases, with a goal of implementing new technologies for disease control in resource limited settings.
Our field-based research is focused on the epidemiology of hookworm and malaria in West Africa. In collaboration with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana, we have defined the prevalence and intensity of hookworm/malaria in endemic communities, identified host factors that mediate susceptibility to infection, and also demonstrated high rates of deworming treatment failure. This work suggests the potential emergence of anthelminthic resistance, threatening the effectiveness of mass deworming campaigns in Africa. The long-range goal of our work is to improve the health of poor people around the world through laboratory and field based research on endemic infectious diseases.
In 2007 we launched the Yale Partnerships for Global Health, an initiative aimed at building human research capacity through education and training. Through this innovative program, students and post-doctoral fellows from Ghana, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, China, Singapore, and Australia have been hosted at Yale for mentored research training in clinical and translational research. The long range goal of the Yale Partnerships is to build a global network of scientists committed to improving health through collaborative research.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Africa, Western; Developing Countries; Ghana; Hookworm Infections; Malaria; Microbiology; Pediatrics; Public Health; Tropical Medicine; Global Health; Infectious Disease Medicine
Public Health Interests
Clinical Trials; Epidemiology Methods; Global Health; Infectious Diseases; Vaccines
Research Images
Selected Publications
- Dogs and pigs are transport hosts of Necator americanus: Molecular evidence for a zoonotic mechanism of human hookworm transmission in Ghana.Boyko RH, Marie Harrison L, Humphries D, Galvani AP, Townsend JP, Otchere J, Wilson MD, Cappello M. Dogs and pigs are transport hosts of Necator americanus: Molecular evidence for a zoonotic mechanism of human hookworm transmission in Ghana. Zoonoses And Public Health 2020, 67: 474-483. PMID: 32529782, DOI: 10.1111/zph.12708.
- Social determinants and causes of child mortality in Pakistan: Analysis of national demographic health surveys from 1990 to 2013.Afshan K, Narjis G, Qureshi IZ, Cappello M. Social determinants and causes of child mortality in Pakistan: Analysis of national demographic health surveys from 1990 to 2013. Journal Of Paediatrics And Child Health 2020, 56: 457-472. PMID: 31774227, DOI: 10.1111/jpc.14670.
- Genetic Markers of Benzimidazole Resistance among Human Hookworms (Necator americanus) in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana.Orr AR, Quagraine JE, Suwondo P, George S, Harrison LM, Dornas FP, Evans B, Caccone A, Humphries D, Wilson MD, Cappello M. Genetic Markers of Benzimidazole Resistance among Human Hookworms (Necator americanus) in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2019, 100: 351-356. PMID: 30734697, PMCID: PMC6367626, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0727.
- Albendazole Treatment Improves Work Capacity in Women Smallholder Farmers Infected with Hookworm: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial.Salmon M, Salmon C, Masoda M, Salumu JM, Bozzi C, Nieburg P, Harrison LM, Humphries D, Abaca Uvon N, Wendel SK, Trout C, Cappello M. Albendazole Treatment Improves Work Capacity in Women Smallholder Farmers Infected with Hookworm: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2018, 98: 1419-1426. PMID: 29611504, PMCID: PMC5953358, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0403.
- Effectiveness of Albendazole for Hookworm Varies Widely by Community and Correlates with Nutritional Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study of School-Age Children in Ghana.Humphries D, Nguyen S, Kumar S, Quagraine JE, Otchere J, Harrison LM, Wilson M, Cappello M. Effectiveness of Albendazole for Hookworm Varies Widely by Community and Correlates with Nutritional Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study of School-Age Children in Ghana. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2017, 96: 347-354. PMID: 27895280, PMCID: PMC5303035, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0682.
- Hookworm infection among school age children in Kintampo north municipality, Ghana: nutritional risk factors and response to albendazole treatment.Humphries D, Simms BT, Davey D, Otchere J, Quagraine J, Terryah S, Newton S, Berg E, Harrison LM, Boakye D, Wilson M, Cappello M. Hookworm infection among school age children in Kintampo north municipality, Ghana: nutritional risk factors and response to albendazole treatment. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2013, 89: 540-8. PMID: 23836564, PMCID: PMC3771297, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0605.
- The promise and pitfalls of mass drug administration to control intestinal helminth infections.Humphries D, Nguyen S, Boakye D, Wilson M, Cappello M. The promise and pitfalls of mass drug administration to control intestinal helminth infections. Current Opinion In Infectious Diseases 2012, 25: 584-9. PMID: 22903231, DOI: 10.1097/QCO.0b013e328357e4cf.
- Frequency and intensity of exposure mediate resistance to experimental infection with the hookworm, Ancylostoma ceylanicum.Davey D, Manickam N, Simms BT, Harrison LM, Vermeire JJ, Cappello M. Frequency and intensity of exposure mediate resistance to experimental infection with the hookworm, Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Experimental Parasitology 2013, 133: 243-9. PMID: 23232252, PMCID: PMC3580025, DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.11.010.
- Application of a Poisson distribution quality control measure to the analysis of two human hookworm drug treatment studies in Ghana.Kotze AC, Dobson RJ, Humphries D, Wilson M, Cappello M. Application of a Poisson distribution quality control measure to the analysis of two human hookworm drug treatment studies in Ghana. International Journal For Parasitology. Drugs And Drug Resistance 2014, 4: 64-70. PMID: 24596670, PMCID: PMC3940077, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.01.001.
- Peroxiredoxin-1 from the human hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum forms a stable oxidized decamer and is covalently inhibited by conoidin A.Nguyen JB, Pool CD, Wong CY, Treger RS, Williams DL, Cappello M, Lea WA, Simeonov A, Vermeire JJ, Modis Y. Peroxiredoxin-1 from the human hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum forms a stable oxidized decamer and is covalently inhibited by conoidin A. Chemistry & Biology 2013, 20: 991-1001. PMID: 23891152, PMCID: PMC3755041, DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2013.06.011.
- In vitro screening of compounds against laboratory and field isolates of human hookworm reveals quantitative differences in anthelmintic susceptibility.Treger RS, Otchere J, Keil MF, Quagraine JE, Rai G, Mott BT, Humphries DL, Wilson M, Cappello M, Vermeire JJ. In vitro screening of compounds against laboratory and field isolates of human hookworm reveals quantitative differences in anthelmintic susceptibility. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2014, 90: 71-4. PMID: 24297811, PMCID: PMC3886431, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0547.
- Epidemiology of hookworm infection in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana: patterns of malaria coinfection, anemia, and albendazole treatment failure.Humphries D, Mosites E, Otchere J, Twum WA, Woo L, Jones-Sanpei H, Harrison LM, Bungiro RD, Benham-Pyle B, Bimi L, Edoh D, Bosompem K, Wilson M, Cappello M. Epidemiology of hookworm infection in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana: patterns of malaria coinfection, anemia, and albendazole treatment failure. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2011, 84: 792-800. PMID: 21540391, PMCID: PMC3083749, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0003.
- Twenty-first century progress toward the global control of human hookworm infection.Bungiro R, Cappello M. Twenty-first century progress toward the global control of human hookworm infection. Current Infectious Disease Reports 2011, 13: 210-7. PMID: 21462001, DOI: 10.1007/s11908-011-0182-z.
- Ancylostoma ceylanicum excretory-secretory protein 2 adopts a netrin-like fold and defines a novel family of nematode proteins.Kucera K, Harrison LM, Cappello M, Modis Y. Ancylostoma ceylanicum excretory-secretory protein 2 adopts a netrin-like fold and defines a novel family of nematode proteins. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2011, 408: 9-17. PMID: 21352830, PMCID: PMC3070796, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.02.033.
- Poly-helminth Infection in East Guatemalan School Children.Sorensen WC, Cappello M, Bell D, Difedele LM, Brown MA. Poly-helminth Infection in East Guatemalan School Children. Journal Of Global Infectious Diseases 2011, 3: 25-31. PMID: 21572605, PMCID: PMC3068574, DOI: 10.4103/0974-777X.77292.
- CD4 T cells mediate mucosal and systemic immune responses to experimental hookworm infection.Dondji B, Sun T, Bungiro RD, Vermeire JJ, Harrison LM, Bifulco C, Cappello M. CD4 T cells mediate mucosal and systemic immune responses to experimental hookworm infection. Parasite Immunology 2010, 32: 406-13. PMID: 20500671, PMCID: PMC3241967, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2010.01204.x.
- Mucosal antibody responses in experimental hookworm infection.Bungiro RD, Sun T, Harrison LM, Shoemaker CB, Cappello M. Mucosal antibody responses in experimental hookworm infection. Parasite Immunology 2008, 30: 293-303. PMID: 18312503, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2008.01023.x.
- Role for nitric oxide in hookworm-associated immune suppression.Dondji B, Bungiro RD, Harrison LM, Vermeire JJ, Bifulco C, McMahon-Pratt D, Cappello M. Role for nitric oxide in hookworm-associated immune suppression. Infection And Immunity 2008, 76: 2560-7. PMID: 18347036, PMCID: PMC2423093, DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00094-08.
- Structural and functional characterization of a secreted hookworm Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) that interacts with the human MIF receptor CD74.Cho Y, Jones BF, Vermeire JJ, Leng L, DiFedele L, Harrison LM, Xiong H, Kwong YK, Chen Y, Bucala R, Lolis E, Cappello M. Structural and functional characterization of a secreted hookworm Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) that interacts with the human MIF receptor CD74. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2007, 282: 23447-56. PMID: 17567581, PMCID: PMC3707627, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M702950200.
- A purified Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein with therapeutic activity against the hookworm parasite Ancylostoma ceylanicum.Cappello M, Bungiro RD, Harrison LM, Bischof LJ, Griffitts JS, Barrows BD, Aroian RV. A purified Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein with therapeutic activity against the hookworm parasite Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2006, 103: 15154-9. PMID: 17005719, PMCID: PMC1622792, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0607002103.
- Dietary iron content mediates hookworm pathogenesis in vivo.Held MR, Bungiro RD, Harrison LM, Hamza I, Cappello M. Dietary iron content mediates hookworm pathogenesis in vivo. Infection And Immunity 2006, 74: 289-95. PMID: 16368983, PMCID: PMC1346670, DOI: 10.1128/IAI.74.1.289-295.2006.